Fluted tube joint

Abstract

A method of forming a tube joint which can be used in a desalination plant includes providing a fluted tube, applying a sealant to the tube end and inserting the tube end into a tube sheet or plate to form a joint therebetween. After insertion, the inner surface of the fluted tube is worked to deform external ridges of the fluted tube and uniformly distribute the sealant throughout the joint area. The fluted tube is deformed using a roll expanding method. The fluted design of the tube retains sealant in the joint area during tube insertion and expansion and takes advantage of the heat transfer characteristic of the flutes to provide an improved joint construction especially adapted for heat exchange use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A joint construction comprising: a) a tube;   b) a tube receiving member having an opening sized to receive an end of said tube;   c) a grooved surface comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys formed in internal and exterior surfaces of said tube; and   d) a sealant;   e) wherein said tube end engages said opening, said sealant is substantially evenly distributed in the valleys of the exterior surface of said tube end and at least a portion of said ridges on the interior and exterior surfaces of said tube comprise deformed structures resulting from compressive forces applied thereto.   
     
     
       2. The joint construction of claim 1 wherein said sealant is selected from the group of silicone and an epoxy. 
     
     
       3. The joint construction of claim 1 wherein said tube receiving member is a plate. 
     
     
       4. The point construction of claim 1 wherein said grooved surface extends the entire length of said tube. 
     
     
       5. The joint construction of claim 1 wherein said tube is an aluminum fluted extrusion, flutes of said extrusion providing said plurality of ridges and valleys. 
     
     
       6. A joint construction comprising: a) a tube;   b) a tube receiving member having an opening sized to receive an end of said tube;   c) a grooved surface comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys formed in an exterior surface of the end of said tube; and   d) a sealant;   e) wherein said tube end engages said opening, said sealant is substantially evenly distributed in the valleys of said tube end and at least a portion of said ridges on the exterior surface of said tube comprise deformed structures resulting from compressive forces applied thereto and the internal diameter of the tube end is enlarged.   
     
     
       7. The joint construction of claim 6, wherein a plurality of ridges and valleys are formed in an internal surface of said tube. 
     
     
       8. The joint construction of claim 6, wherein the plurality of ridges and valleys extend the entire length of said tube. 
     
     
       9. The joint construction of claim 7, wherein the plurality of ridges and valleys extend the entire length of said tube.